Filing apparatus.



'E. C. DEAL.

' FILING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man JUNE 12, 1914.

Patented June 15, 1915.

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- FILING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1914.

1,142,941 Patented June 15, 1915.

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FILING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial No. 844,759.

mg at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in filing apparatus, for holding rolled material, such as maps, blue prints, papers or records, having means whereby the selected roll may be readily located.

The apparatus consists generally in a cabinet or casing having a suita'ble number of stationary tubes or tubular containers, arranged therein, such tubes having numbers or reference characters, arranged to be readily observed. Removably mounted within the stationary tubes are portable tubes, to contain the rolls. These portable tubes have numbers or reference characters arranged to be readily observed, the same corresponding to the numbers or reference characters of the stationary tubes, holding the portable tubes. All papers or the roll of papers to be inserted-in a selected portable tube, are provided with a corresponding number or reference character.

n connection with this apparatus an index book is preferably kept having the different rolls recorded therein in proper order, with the corresponding numerals or reference characters arranged adjacent such records, whereby the portable tubes containing the corresponding rolls may be readily located.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable, and may be conveniently operated by inexperienced ersons.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is compact, neat and attractive in appearance, and adapted to serve as a desk or table when the cover thereof is closed.

-A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which may be constructed fire proof. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Inthe accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through apparatus embodying my invention, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, showing the end top-sections moved to .the outer position, and certain of the inner top-sections moved outwardly, Fig. 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view through one of the stationary tubes and a portable tube held thereby, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a number of the stationary tubes, showing the numerals or reference characters employed to designate the same, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of one top-section, showing a guide strip secured thereto.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a cabinet or outer casing, as awhole, thesame comprising end and side pieces 11 and 12, secured to upright legs or posts 13, by any suitable means. Rigidly mounted within the cabinet or outer casing are horizontal upper and lower holding walls or partitions 14 and 15, secured thereto by any suitable means. The horizontal holding walls or partitions 14 and 15 are provided with rows of preferably equi-distantly spaced openings 16, receiving vertically arranged stationary tubes 17, which engage and are supported by a plate 18, rigidly secured to the lower holding wall or partition 15, and also serving to close the lower ends of the stationary tubes 17.

As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, numerals or reference characters 17 are arranged adjacent the corresponding stationary tubes 17, the same being preferably placed upon the upper holding wall or partition 14, as shown. The stationary tubes are preferably consecutively numbered for the sake of convenience, as shown.

Arranged within the-stationary tubes 17 are portable tubes 19, to contain rolls 19, which may be maps, blue prints, or the like. Each of these portable tubes, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, has its lower end closed by a block 20 secured thereto by a pin or bolt 21, as shown. The upper end of the tube is open and may be preferably closed by a removable cap or cover 22, having a numeral or reference character 23 applied thereto, corresponding to the numeral or character of the stationary tube holding the same. The roll contained within the portable tube 19 is provided with a numeral 2% corresponding to the numeral of the portable tube 19.

The upper end of the cabinet is closed by a top, preferably formed in separate sections 25 and 26, as shown. The end sections 26 are hinged to the ends 11, as shown at 27, to be swung outwardly and upwardly. The intermediate top-sections 25 are provided upon their lower surfaces and near their opposite ends with transverse guide strips 28 rigidly secured thereto, whereby the topsections 25 are capable of being moved longitudinally of the cabinet or outer casing to expose selected stationary tubes, and the same being guided during such movement by the strips 28. If desired, the intermediate top-sections 25 may be wholly removed.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a small auxiliary shell 30 is formed within one lower corner of the main shell or cabinet 10. The outer side of this auxiliary shell is open and adapted to be covered by a horizontally swinging door 31, held closed by any suitable means. Arranged within the auxiliary shell 30 are horizontal tubes 32, the inner ends of which are closed and the outer end open. These horizontal tubes may be numbered. to receive correspondingly numbered portable tubes or the like. The vertical tubes 17 above the auxiliary shell 30 are shortened, as shown.

In constructing the apparatus, the cabinet or outer casing may be formed of wood, or the same may be made of sheet metal, or other fire proof material, it being understood that the invention is not restricted to the 7 use of any particular material. The stationary and portable tubes may be formed of paste-board, sheet metal, asbestos, or the like, it being understood that any suitable material may be employed. The top-sections 26 may be formed of wood, sheet metal or the like.

In the use of the apparatus, the map, blue prints, or other paper or papers to be filed Lid-2,9

designated by the corresponding numeral or reference character. The roll is recorded in an index book together with its numeral or reference character, whereby the same may be readily located. When the top-sections are in their closed position, the same enables the cabinet to be used as a table or desk. The cabinet, when the topsections are closed, is suitably air and moisture tight, the same also serving to exclude insects, such as moths.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. In filing apparatus of the character described, the combination with an outer casing, of a plurality of tubes held therein and having reference characters designating them arranged near their open ends, and portable tubes removably mounted within the stationary tubes for receiving the papers or the like to be filed and projecting outwardly beyond the first named tubes for a substantial distance whereby the ends of the portable tube are exposed and having reference characters applied to their exposed ends corresponding to the reference characters of the tubes containing them, substantially as 100 of the stationary tubes, substantially as de- 115 scribed.

3. A filing apparatus of the character described, comprising a substantially vertical outer casing having its upper end open, substantially vertical tubes held stationary within the outer casing with their upper ends open, removable tubes mounted within the stationary tubes for containing papers or the like, end cover-sections. arranged transversely of the upper ends of the outer casing and hinged thereto to be swung to a substantially vertical position for wholly uncovering the adjacent portions .of the outer casing, and a plurality of intermediate cover-sections disposed transversely of the upper ends of the outer casing between the end cover-sections and having no connection therewith and provided with transverse guide means fitting within the top of the outer casing whereby the intermediate cover- 5 sections may be moved longitudinally of the casing without moving transversely with relation thereto.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS CHARLES DEAL.

Witnesses:

C. H. ANnREws, G. L. Fm'rz. 

